Local students make their mark in National History Day competition [West Friendship]

Congratulations to the local students who were winners in the recent 2013 National History Day competition held at the University of Maryland from June 9 through 13.

More than 2,600 students from across the nation participated. Students who received honors at the national level and who hail from our region include Emma Halley of Glenelg High School, who won the Outstanding Entry Tied to a Historic Site award, sponsored by the History Channel.

The award garnered a $5,000 prize for Emma. Her exhibit was titled, "Votes for Women, Parades, Picketing and Prison: A Turning Point in the Women's Suffrage Movement." Patrick Scible is Emma's history teacher at Glenelg.

Folly Quarter Middle School student Christopher Messer was a finalist in the competition, garnering high honors in the first round of judging, which qualified him to advance as a finalist in the Junior Individual Exhibit. Christopher's topic, "Operation Urgent Fury: A Turning Point in United States Military History" received high honors among the judges. His history teacher at Folly Quarter is William Ceglia.

Kudos to these local history students who brought great honor to their respective schools and to our community.

Glenelg Country School has announced the roster of Merit Scholars for the Class of 2017. Based on their achievements during middle school years, teacher recommendations and standardized test results, 12 students have been awarded four-year partial tuition scholarships. The students include Michael Allen, Tara Basir, Daniel Chalk, Brandon Chun, Kate Crossett, Brendan Grady, Brian Hersey, Hillary Hwang, Karli Lawrence, Raj Malviya, Ethan Mendez and Connor Walsh.

The Columbia Amateur Radio Association set up shop behind Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School on the first day of summer. The two-day event featured tents loaded with ham radio equipment, more than 20 emergency amateur radio stations, radio operators from the Columbia Amateur Radio Association and the American Radio Relay League and a passel of amateur radio friends and fans. The radio clubs hold this event each year to demonstrate how emergency communications might be provided during a national emergency — a great group and a great mission.

Dog lovers alight.

The Howard County Fairgrounds is set to be a sea of pooches and pups — and large-sized hounds, too. All this among a chorus of barks to echo over the hills. The combined kennel club shows are setting up from Thursday, July 4, to Sunday, July 7, with more than 140 breeds among the expected 2,000 dogs each day: a dog lover's delight no doubt.